Tough Ascot-based galloper Guyno scored a gritty victory in the $300,000 Listed Mornington Cup (2400m) this afternoon digging deep to run down the locally trained favourite Cedarberg and earn a ballot exemption into the 2011 Caulfield Cup field during the spring.
Pat Carey’s clear $2.70 favourite in the Mornington Cup betting, Cedarberg begun quickly and took the early lead.
Summarise quickly moved up to take the front running, Cedarberg settled nicely in second while Guyno had no luck getting caught three wide running into the breeze.
Midway through the Mornington Cup Summarise, who eventually faded to finish over 18 lengths away from the winniner, controlled the pace running at their own leisure before the field began to quicken with 800m to go.
On the straight Cedarberg hit the accelerator and went to the front at the 600m mark.
As the locals cheered on the favourite Cedarberg looked the winner pulling away to lead by over two lengths before the gallant late charge by Guyno.
Winning jockey Lou Luciani never panicked and as Cedarberg looked for an all-the-way win turning the Mornington Cup into a true staying test, Guyno and Luciani answered with an amazing run.
Right on the line Guyno ($16) pinned their ears back and ground down the favourite to score the narrowest of victories over Cedarberg in a thrilling photo-finish that had the punters groaning.
Robert Smerdon’s up-and-coming four-year-old stayer Shewan ($8) came in third just under two lengths away while Peter Moody’s Sandown Cup winner Macedonian ($8) got up to cross fourth after sitting at the back of the field the entire run.
The 2011 Caulfield Cup may be a way off yet, set to run during the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival on Saturday October 15, but the option is now there for Guyno.
The next big feature on the Melbourne racing calendar is this Saturday’s Group 1 Lightning Stakes so if you backed an upset in the Mornington Cup keep the winnings going with an online Lightning Stakes punt through Luxbet!
2011 Mornington Cup Results & Finishing Order
| Place | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Margin | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GUYNO | Jason Whiting | Lou Luciani | 2:30.60 | $16 |
| 2 | CEDARBERG | Michael Walker | Pat Carey | 0.1L | $2.70F |
| 3 | SHEWAN | Glen Boss | Robert Smerdon | 1.9L | $8 |
| 4 | MACEDONIAN | Luke Nolen | Peter Moody | 3.1L | $8 |
| 5 | CELTIC FANTASY | Craig Williams | Craig Ritchie | 3.4L | $8.50 |
| 6 | CABEZA | Jason Maskiell | Danny O’Brien | 7.9L | $9 |
| 7 | MY BENTLEY | Brad Rawiller | Michael Kent | 8.1L | $8 |
| 8 | GOLAGO | Ben Knobel | John Honeysett | 10.4L | $41 |
| 9 | SUMMARISE | Damien Oliver | Stephen Theodore | 18.4L | $21 |
| 10 | NAZABEEL | Michael Rodd | Shaun Dwyer | 33.4L | $61 |
| 11 | STARMON | James Winks | Michael Kent | 99.9L | $26 |
| SCR | VESPER | Nicholas Hall | Robert Hickmott | – | – |
| SCR | TARAWERA | Craig Newitt | F. Houlahan & B. Johnston | – | – |
